If you’ve ever dreamed of going sky diving or visiting a loved one who lives far away but didn’t have the resources to do so…there might be a way to have your wish granted.

As a charitable affiliate of AARP, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) has been introduced to another nonprofit affiliate called Wish of a Lifetime from AARP (WOL), which grants wishes of all kinds to older adults.

WOL was founded in 2008 and has granted over 2,000 wishes to individuals 65 and older across the United States.

A Wish of a Lifetime Story

Jeri of Arvada, Colorado dreamed of getting back on a bicycle for more than 20 years. After receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson’s 9 years ago, Jeri was not sure she would ever ride a bike again. In April of 2021, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP granted Jeri’s wish of relearning to ride a bike!

With a special guest appearance from Chris Carmichael, famed professional cycling coach, Jeri received one-on-one training and some professional racing tips. To her surprise, WOL purchased an adaptive bike for Jeri to take home the day of her wish in order to aid in her battle with Parkinson’s.

Thanks to this wish experience, Jeri has a memory that she still talks about to this day.  Even now she enjoys riding her bike with her 8-year-old grandson on the bike paths of Colorado.

Connecting wish recipients with the people and passions that are important to them is central to the organization’s work. 

One granted wish at a time, WOL is changing the perception of aging and how we see and value ourselves as we age. If you or someone you know has a wish in mind, you can submit your wish for consideration at www.wishofalifetime.org/submit-a-wish.

Suzanne Myklebust is Senior Planet’s Director of Communications. Suzanne is based in New York City and has a background in public relations, marketing, and communications strategy specifically in the field of aging.